Jordan Henderson’s call-up should have been a fairly quick indication that Thomas Tuchel is ready to hand out second chances in the England set-up before the World Cup. The former Chelsea boss is leading a new era and one which has already featured plenty of old faces as well as some fresh arrivals.
The latest to benefit from that is Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Prior to the arrival of Tuchel, the midfield star hadn’t been called up for England duty since 2018. That was as many as seven years ago now, but he’s seemingly done enough at AC Milan to earn another chance to impress for the Three Lions and make a claim for a World Cup place.
It feels unlikely that he’ll be the final shock inclusion under Tuchel, who has left England fans guessing at every turn. But who could be next to receive a much-welcomed return to the England squad ahead of the World Cup?
4 Fikayo Tomori AC Milan
Fikayo Tomori was always one that was overlooked by Gareth Southgate and mainly for reasons unknown. He played for one of Europe’s most historic clubs and, last season aside, started almost every week for AC Milan. Yet, it still wasn’t enough for Southgate, who chose to keep his selection in the Premier League for the most part.
Things are changing under Tuchel, however, and Tomori could be the next former Chelsea star back in the squad after Loftus-Cheek. The central defender’s last call-up came in 2019, but after earning his way back into Milan’s starting side, he deserves to get his place back in the Three Lions set-up at long last.
Tuchel has already shown willingness to call players outside the Premier League with the inclusion of AC Milan’s Loftus-Cheek alongside Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford, and should now turn towards Tomori.
3 Jack Grealish Everton
It almost seems inevitable that Jack Grealish will get his England chance before the World Cup. The winger has so far been reborn under David Moyes at Everton – assisting four goals in just two games – and provides a different threat to the quicker, more direct wingers who already have a place under Tuchel.
Grealish was beginning to fall out of love with football at Manchester City. He was refined to a cameo role more often than not, if that, and desperately needed the move that Everton soon granted him.
With the World Cup around nine months away, the Toffees have so far unlocked the version of Grealish that the Premier League last saw at Aston Villa. He is the star of the show at the Hill Dickinson and is well on course to earn back the England place that he lost in 2023.
2 Jadon Sancho Aston Villa
It goes without saying that Jadon Sancho still has a long way to go. He struggled on loan at Chelsea last season, so much so that they paid to get out of their obligation to buy the winger from Manchester United, and has shown all the signs of a player lacking the desire that he once had. But a lot can change in football.
It wasn’t so long ago that Sancho was the talk of European football, and he wasn’t the first player to struggle in a Manchester United shirt after a big-money move. A loan spell back to Borussia Dortmund in the 2023/24 campaign proved that he is still a player full of talent, but that talent must be on show at Aston Villa.
Rashford rediscovered his best form under Unai Emery in a similar move last season. Now, he has his England place back and is a Barcelona player. Sancho must use that example and get back to the type of form that would hand the Three Lions a major boost next summer.
1 Phil Foden Man City
Recent injuries haven’t helped, but there’s no denying that Phil Foden is very much on the peripheral of Pep Guardiola’s current plans. The 25-year-old hasn’t started any of Manchester City’s opening three games and is in danger of taking up the role that Grealish just vacated at the Etihad.
From becoming the Premier League’s Player of the Year in 23/24, the midfielder has now lost his England place and faces a fight to win it back before the World Cup gets underway.
It would be Tuchel’s biggest call to leave Foden out of his side. The Man City man is one of the most talented players that the Three Lions have, but things need to change at the Etihad. His first task is to get back into Guardiola’s Man City side, who have lost two of their three opening games, and then prove why he should be starting every week.
When that comes, then he should naturally find a way back into Tuchel’s plans. For now, however, the England boss has simply thrown down the challenge for Foden to get back to his best.
